The seventh season of “Station 19” opened with a shocking twist, as Jack Gibson’s life hung in the balance after a tragic accident at the firefighter’s ball. Despite surviving the ordeal, Jack was left with a life-altering brain injury that would permanently sideline him from field work.
As Jack navigates the challenges of his new reality, the showrunners have hinted that his story is far from over. While his firefighting career may be on hold, Jack’s journey will continue to explore the personal and professional sacrifices made by firefighters.
The season premiere also featured other significant developments, including Natasha securing her position as fire chief, Andy taking on the role of captain, Maya and Carina deciding to foster a baby, and Travis’s unexpected encounter with his ex-boyfriend.
As “Station 19” heads towards its conclusion, fans can expect more drama, emotion, and heartwarming moments. The show’s ability to balance action-packed sequences with character-driven storytelling has made it a beloved series, and the final season promises to deliver a satisfying conclusion.
TheWrap: Andy has officially become captain, and she finds herself haunted by Jack’s voice helping her work through the insecurities of stepping into that leadership role. She eventually asserts that she’s the best person for the job. Why have her go through that internal struggle?
Clack: I think her struggle for the season is how she’s going to lead. She’s gotten this captaincy at the end of last season. So she’s wondering is she going to be a captain like Maya was? Is she going to be like Sullivan (Boris Kodjoe) was? Is she going to be like her father? Her journey is trying to find who she is [going to be in that role]. By having Jack pushing her along through that, it was part of her finding the beginning of that [journey].
Paige: I think that something most of us can relate to is that when you’re in a mid-level management role, there’s a lot of armchair quarterbacking that goes on … Then suddenly you get to step into that leadership role and it is humbling. Suddenly you are making this decision and suddenly everyone is looking to you for guidance or leadership or direction. It is a shocking investment, I think on some level Zoanne and I are using Andy to comment about us stepping into these positions. I think it’s really important to acknowledge that it doesn’t come easy.
We wanted a way that came out of the “Grey’s” universe vocabulary, which that very much does, to dramatize Andy’s interior struggle. I think it’s just such a delightful one. Jack is the perfect voice for that, he’s been with her since the Academy. He is that push-and-pull and happy to needle her and provoke her, both humorously and earnestly. He was the perfect opportunity for us to tell a really moving interior story in an external way.
There were a lot of big moments in the premiere, but Maya and Carina deciding to foster the baby they rescued fulfills this long dream of theirs to explore parenting together. What can you tell us about how this milestone changes the relationship?
Clack: I would say just brings them closer.
Paige: I will say this, I created a TV show literally called “The Fosters.” Zoanne adopted one of our children. It’s something very important to both of us. And it is never a straightforward path.
And of course Travis and Emmett reunited during the episode — as Emmett mourned the loss of his father at the ball — and hooked up! What does this mean for Travis’ current relationship, and how long can we expect Emmett to stick around?
Paige: You’re going to have to watch Episode 2 to find out. I wish that I could just give you a full download. But you know, these characters don’t always make things simple for themselves.
In Episode 2, Travis goes to Emmett’s father’s funeral. I’ll tell you that.
Looking at things from a larger perspective, Shondaland’s slate has been revolutionary in its approach to inclusive storytelling, pretty much from the beginning. “Station 19” sees Natasha retaining her position as fire chief, and now Andy is getting to embody this role of captain. Two women of color in charge of big roles in their profession. How does it feel to lead the charge in writing these stories?
Clack: I feel like my whole life has been towards this goal. I came up in Shondaland, and we’ve gotten to express a lot of that through “Grey’s Anatomy” and through [Shonda Rhimes’] other shows more and more. And I feel like, as the world has evolved, we’ve been able to tell more in-depth stories. When “Grey’s Anatomy” first started, it was enough to just have a Black chief of surgery and Black head of cardiothoracic. And now we’re really talking from their experiences, and how that experience of being a Black person or a Latino woman or whatever, really changes the outlook of how they perform the job, which has been a wonderful journey to participate in through the years.
Paige: It is absolutely true that, like, if you see it, you can be it. My whole career has been about exemplifying that, from when I was an actor (on “Queer as Folk” and other roles) until “The Fosters” and “Good Trouble.” All of that is about supporting these full, complicated images of queer people and people of color, so that audiences can understand them better. So queer and people of color can aspire to different things, or know that the universe is open to them. That’s been a real privilege and it’s very satisfying.
